Spreader tube



NOV. 9, 1937. l R, M. CUTTSi JR 2,098,617

SPREADER lIUBE Filed July 14, 1936 I, will.

U. Cuffs, Jr.

[12 Ven tor Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mme rsznnuw, va."

Application July 14, 1936, Serial No. 90,580

This invention relates to'a spreader tube for use with shot guns and similar firearms, having for its object to produce a construction which is simple in parts and less costly to manufacture as 5 well as more emcient in use than those heretofore proposed.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts as will be disclosed more fully hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims. ,v Referring to the accompanying drawing form-A ing a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views:- Fig.' l is a vertical sectional view of the muzzle of a shot gun barrel vto-which is secured a compensating device of heretofore known construction; Y

Fig. 2 is a. foreshortened vertical sectional View e of a construction similar to that shown in Fig. l 'except that the subject matter of this invention has been substituted for the shot tubeA shown in said Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the spreader tube 5 shown in Fig. 2;.

This invention is somewhatclosely related to the devices shown in U. S. Letters Patent 1,605,393 dated November 2, 1926 and No. 1,636,357 dated July 19, 1927 both granted to Richard M. Cutts,

o Jr., and No. 1,773,260 dated August 19, 1930 granted to Richard M. Cutts, all of which are directed to compensating devices for the muzzle ends of rifles and shot guns. The device of this inveny tion is Ymore closely -allied with that of the last :5 named patent, the principal difference between these two devices being that the device of the patent is particularly adapted to concentrate the pellets of the shot column into a close mass formation, whereas the present device is not so con- 0 cerned with this concentration. In order to bring out these dierences, reference will be had rst to Fig. 1 of the drawing which illustrates a device made in accordance with said Patent'No.

L5 The gun barrel is indicated by the numeral l and externally threaded thereon, at the muzzle, is a hollow cylindrical casing 5 providing the chamber 5 of an internal diameter greater than the bore of the barrel so that the gases of com'- bustion, issuing from the barreL'may immediately expand within said chamber. end'of said casing there is threaded a shot tube generally indicated by the numeral 8 which is axially bored to provide a conical surface it ex.

i5 tending from the extreme' inner end A of the tube At the forward' (ci. 42e-w) to a point such as B. There is alsoprovided a second conical surface il joining said surface I0 andextending from the point B to a point such fas C, the slope of the surface Il being different` from the slope of the surface Ill. Lastly,"the tube 5 is provided with a third internal surface I2 which may be conical or cylindrical according to whether or not a choke eifect is desired, said surface I2 extending from the point C to the outer end 10 4 D vof said tube.

As previously stated, the gases of combustion will expand upon entering the expannon chamber 6 from the barrel muzzle and in this expansion, because gases are disposed between the individual pellets of the column of. shot, cause some of the shot pellets to move laterally away from the axis of the shot column, wherefore the conical surface lll is provided for creating betweenithe points A and B a compression chamber for the forwardly moving gases, as Well as foicreating a* means for receiving the outermost shot pellets and directing them, in their forward travel, back toward the axis of the shot column. The surface l i between the points Band C creates a recompression chamber for the gases and the .25 shot pellets so that at point C all shot pellets are disposed substantially within the connes of the original transverse area of the shot column. In other words, the internal diameter of the tube 8 at the point C is substantially equal to the bore of the barrel, according to whether or not a choke eiect is desired, wherefore the diameter of the, shot column as it travels from the point C to the outer end D of the tube is substantially equal to its original diameter, and the distance of this travel from C to D is such that the individual pellets in the shot column will have no substantial lateral movement toward or away from the axis of the column.

Openings 25 are provided in the walls of .the expansion chamber 6 for the purpose of releasing the gases of combustion as. they emerge from the gun muzzle, but it is to be distinctly understood that these gases are moving at a tremendous forward velocity so that the conical surfaces illand i i will positively function to increase the pressure of the gas to a `degree producing a material counteraction of the recoil of the gun before the openings' 25 will have exhausted sufficient gas to reduce the pressure within the chamber S. 'Ihe openings 25 permit an escape of the gases to an; extent where little effective pressure is left within the shot column as it enters the chamber C-lQ of the tube 8 and therefore there will be no undesirablelateral shot velocities at the exit end 55 D of said tube, wherefore all of the pellets in the shot column will travel together as` a substantially compacted mass to the target.

Accordingv to the present invention the shot gun barrel l at its muzzle is provided with a hollow cylindrical casing 5 which is substantially a duplicate of the casing Shown in Fig. 1 and described in detail in Patent No. 1,773,260 referred to above, having the plurality of openings 25 in its walls. However, instead of having the shot tube indicated by the numeral 8, there is substitutedv a spreader tube indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 by the numeral III, the main purpose of which is not so much to concentrate the indi-4 vidual shot pellets into a shot column suitable for longer firing ranges, but rather to provide a means for permitting an intended but slight lateral deection ofthe shot pellets in a directionl away from the axis of the shot column, so that with the use of this spreader tube a wider coverage of a target results, to the end that better results are obtained with the use of this spreader tube at short iiring ranges.

The internal surface of this spreader tube is formed as shown, substantially as a double cone, sog. at said tube has its smallest diameter at E substantially midway the ends of the 7tube.

In other words, the innermost end of said tube F has an internal diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the v*expansion chamber 6, which diameter gradually decreases toward the throat E of the spreader tube, and then gradually increases from the throat toward the outermost end G of said tube. This internal surface of the tube 30 may taper evenly or it may be formedy as a succession of at conical surfaces as was the case .with the tube 8 shown in Fig. 1, though the former is preferable.

It will therefore be seen that by this invention those shot pellets which, in the expansion chamber 6, have moved laterally away from the axis of the shot column (due to the pressure of the gases of combustion within the shot column) will strike the internal forwardly tapered surface of the innermost portion of the spreader tube 30 and be directed back toward the axis of the shot column in the forward travel of said pellets, and that after the throat E is passed there will be no conning tube wall (as was the case of the tube shown in Fig. 1) to hold all of the pellets in columnar formation, Awhereby the pellets may spread laterally due to the divergence 'of the tube surface from the throat -to the outermost end of the tube. In other words, the outermost shot pellets are those which have moved appre- I ciably away from the shot column in 4the expansion chamber, leaving theremainder of the pelvbutthey will start various deflections among all ofthe pellets in said column, resulting in an opening out of the column into a wide even pattern. The dimensionof the throat at E will vary with eachmake of shot gun, and is such that it doesv not. choke the shot column proper, being wide enough for the column normally to go' through without being impeded and being short enough to give substantially tangential point contact (if any at all) with said column. However, the throat surface does catch only the outer layer of pellets, which are gradually being deflected laterally by gas disturbance and other causes, and these' outer pellets are again deilected on impact with the throat surface and impinge the pellets of the shot column, in a manner similar to that previously described.

As will be observed from the drawing the shot tube 8 is readily replaceable by the spreader tube 30 through the. threaded connection with the outer end of the expansion chamber 6, wherefore a single gun may be readily adapted through interchange of the tubes for both long and short range firing. The use of the spreader tube 30 gives wider target patterns, with even shot pellet distribution, than are possible with either improved cylinder or full cylinder tubes such as 8 shown in Fig. '1. Also some of the 'gases under increased pressure from vchamber 6 will pass the throat E along with the shot pellets before the' powder wads substantially seal said throat, with the result that thisgas, by its pressure, will aid slightly in the lateral dispersion of the pel.

lets after leaving said throat.

It isobvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction without departing from the spirit of this invention and therefore'it is desired not tb be limited to the exact foregoing disclosure except as may be demaruled by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a gun adapted to rea plurality of projectiles with a single powder charge and provided with a muzzle, the combination of an expansion chamber to receive the gases of explosion as they emerge from said muzzle together with the projectiles said chamber permitting a. devia4 tion of said projectiles from the established line of ight'; and a spreader tube at the forward end of saidzehambercoaxial with said chamber and said ruzzle, said tube having two concentric ta.-

smaller diameters joined to form a throat, the

diameter of the throat being greater than the bore of the muzzle.

2. A device of the character described and adapted to be attached to the muzz1e of a shot gun or the like, said device provided with an expansion chamber to receive the gases of explosion as they emerge, ,from the muzzle together with the shot pellets, said device provided with an end member axially bored to provide substantially conical surfaces of opposite slopes coactingly affecting the projected shot, said surfaces joined to form a throat having a diameter greater than the bore of the gun. Y

3. A device of the character described and adapted to be attached to the muzzle of a shot gun or the like, said device provided with an oX- pansion chamber to receive the gases of explosion as they vemerge from the muzzle together with\ the shot pellets, said chamber permitting a deviation of said pellets from the established line of ight, said device provided with an end member axially bored to Aprovide two substantially conical surfaces of opposite slopes, one surface for deecting the deviated pellets from their line of travel, and the other surface for permitting the pellets to continue in the line of their deected travel, said surfaces joined to form a throat having a diameter. greater4 than the bore 4of thegun.

4. In combination with a. shot gun, an expansion chamber to receive the gases of explosion as they leave the muzzle, said chamber having ta.- pered means to arrest the lateral dispersion of the shot pellets from the mass leaving said muzzle and to return them in a. deected course to the pellets not so dispersed, the smallest diameter of said means being greater than the bore of the muzzle, and oppositely tapered means in prolongation of the arrestingv and returning means to permit the returned pellets to continue in the line of their deected course.

5. In a gun adapted to nre a plurality of projectiles with a single powder charge with resultant lateral dispersion of said projectiles upon leaving themuzzle of said gun due to the'presence between said projectiles-in the barrel of the gun of some of the gases of explion and the expansion of said gases upon leaving said muzzle, thecomv Yril bination of an expansion chamber associated with the muzzle of said gun to receive the gases'of explosion as they leave said muzzle together with the projectiles including those' to which a lateral velocity has been imparted/by a portion of said gases; an end member for the chamber provided with a bore vcoaxial with said bar-rel, said bore having a forwardly and inwardly tapered surface providing means to arrest the lateral dispersion of those projectiles so affected by said gases and return them in a deflected course to the other of said projectiles said surface also providing means to increase the pressure of the expanded gases in said chamber, the'smallest diameter of said surface being greater than the bore of the barrel; and means comprising another and oppositely tapered surface of said bore to permit a. lateral dispersion of all of said projectiles due to thel presence therebetween of gases under increased pressure after passing said rst named surface.

6. A device of the character described and adapted to be attached to the muzzle of a shot gun barrel or the like, said device comprising an expansion chamber to receive the gases of explosion and the shot pellets as they emergel from the muzzle, and an end member for said chamber provided axially with two tapered surfaces of opposite slopes, said surfaces joined at their smallest diameters to form a throat having a. di-

ameter greater than the bore of the barrel, one

surface tending to concentrate the shot pellets .chamber to receive the gases of explosion as they leave the muzzle; a. pattern tube to receive the shot column, the smallest diameter of saidv tube being greater than the bore of the muzzle; and means incorporated in said tube to disperse the pellets of the shot column into a wide pattern upon leaving said tube.

8. I'n combination with a sho-t gun, an expansion chamber to receive the gases of explosion as they leave the muzzle; a pattern tube to receive the shot column, the smallest diameter of said tube being greater than the bore of the muzzle; and means incorporated in said tube and comprising oppositely directed substantially conical Asurfaces vrespectively tapering in opposite directions and having their respective smaller diameters joined toform a throat, the diameter of the throat being greater than the bore of the muzzle, and the larger diameter of the rearmost surface being substantially equal to the inside diameter of said chamber.

10. In combination with a shot gun, an expansion chamber to receive the gases of explosion as they leave the muzzle; a pattern tube to receive the shot column; and means incorporated in said tube to disperse the pellets of the shot column into a. wide pattern upon leaving said tube, said means comprising two substantially equal concentric tapered interior surfaces respectively tapering in opposite directions and having their respective smaller diameters joined to form a throat, the diameter of the throat being greater than the bore of the muzzle, and the larger diameters of said surfaces being substantially equal to the inside diameter of said chamber.

11. In combination with a shot gun, an expansionchamber to receive the gases of explosion as they leave the muzzle, said chamber having means to arrest the lateral dispersion of the shot from the mass leaving said muzzle and to return them to the shot not so dispersed to. create a. disturbance in the loosely compacted mass whereby all of said shot are caused to travel in substantially true night upon leaving said meansin a pattern of wide diameter, said means including a forwardly and outwardly flared internal surface at its discharge end.

12. A spreader tube for attachment to a'shot gun, said tube having two concentric tapered interior surfaces respectively tapering in opposite directions and having their respective smaller diameters joined to form athroat, the diameter of the throat being greater than the bore of the gun to which said' tube is to be attached,

13. A spreader tube for attachment to a shot gun, said tube having t'wo concentric tapered interior surfaces respectively tapering in opposite directions and having their respective smaller diameters joined to form a throat, one of said surfaces at its greatest diameter joining the inner surface of an expansion chamber for receiving the gases of explosion from the gun, the diameter of the throat being greater than the bore of the gun to which said tube is to be attached.

14. A spreader tube for attachment to a shot gun, said tube having two substantially equal concentric tapered interior surfaces respectively tapering in opposite directions and having their respective smaller diameters joined to form-a A throat, one of said surfaces at its greatest diameter joining the inner surface of an expansion chamber for receiving the gases of explosion 'from the gun, the diameter of the throat beinggreater than the bore of the gun to which said tube is to be attached.

' RICHARD M. VCU'ITS, Je. 

